A review by bridget_in_md
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood

5.0

4.5 Stars for Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood. This is the story of Clytemnestra & Helen, but more from Helen's perspective on why she went so willingly to Troy with Paris (not that she had a choice, thanks to the gods). Interesting to me, no matter how many times I read these women's stories, there is always a different telling. In this case, Clytemnestra is a maternal, mothering figure, dutiful daughter and wife, who really wrestles with her fate of having watch her daughter murdered by her husband, and avenging her death (reluctantly, almost, in this retelling). Then Helen, almost hated by her mother (who I believe was raped by Zeus, which was implied but not straight out said in this book). Not a maternal figure, unhappily married to Menalaus, she is beguiled off her feet from Paris's flirting. There is NO indication of the gods whispers and actions in this story which was another interest to me - in most retellings, the reader is reminded that what is set in motion all stems from Olympian's interference.